Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Pearl Theater and Shows

Norwegian Pearl's Stardust Theater, on decks 6 and 7 forward, can host any number of events like improv comedy, song-and-dance shows, audience-participation games, magic and game shows (Not So Newlywed, Ladies vs. Gents) or charades put on by the cruise director's staff. It also serves as a place for Q&A panels (with cast or band members on theme cruise) and movie screenings (or marathons).

The theater itself seems small for a large ship like Norwegian Pearl -- but that's a good thing; when split into two shows per night, there's enough room for everyone and cruisers can access any seat from Deck 6 or 7 and have a similarly intimate experience as those sitting in the first row. Seats are teal to match the dragonfly pattern in the carpeting. The entrance to the theater is flanked with fanciful wall decorations like embroidered peacocks or a hall of mirrors.

Norwegian Pearl Daily Activities

There’s no shortage of amenities and entertainment options on Norwegian Pearl. Daily activities include the Deal or No Deal interactive game show, where cruisers can compete for prizes in the theater (just like on the TV show); family pizza-building in La Cucina; multiple dance classes (held on the pool deck in good weather); family dodgeball; an art enrichment seminar; trivia; bingo; poolside competitions; and even a veteran's social.

Norwegian Pearl’s bowling alley is popular, with its four family-friendly lanes flanking the funky Bliss Ultra Lounge on Deck 7. There is a per-person, per-game cost (check your Freestyle Daily for one-hour, two-for-one specials), which includes shoe rental. Remember to bring socks with you, or you'll be denied.

On a theme cruise (Pearl hosts many), daily activities are centered on the theme -- this could be anything from meet 'n' greets and panels to concerts and trivia. Sixthman, a cruise theme company, works closely with Norwegian Cruise Line and will provide all the information about your voyage's onboard programming.

First-run, barely released movies are shown daily, either in-cabin on one of the TVs movie channels or on the 20-foot LED screen in the Norwegian Pearl atrium. Norwegian has a partnership with Nintendo, allowing the line to use its Wii U gaming system onboard. When played on then giant atrium screen, it's a marriage made in gaming heaven. (The system is also available in both the children's and teen centers.)

Nightlife on Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Pearl’s casino is located on Deck 6 and features a full bar and the typical gambling fare (roulette, blackjack, slot machines, lottery drawings) all set against a shimmering red and gold color backdrop. The casino is one of the few smoking areas on the ship.

You know nightlife is important when your cruise ship has something called Bar City. This strip of four continuous bars includes Corona, Maltings, Shakers and Magnums. Here, at the Bar City stage, you'll find a pianist offering up a few evening tunes or possibly a band playing oldies. The setup makes barhopping a breeze, but Pearl also offers drinks on the outer decks as well as tipples tucked into restaurants. Chances are, a drink isn't very far away.

For late-night dancing and karaoke (on select nights only) head to the nightclub Bliss Ultra Lounge on Deck 7.

Even when the ship isn't operating a full-charter music cruise, musical acts perform throughout the ship: a calypso band on the pool deck, steel drums at the Great Outdoors and a trio who plays the dance hits of the '40s and '50s in the atrium.

Separate passenger and crew talent shows showcase the skills of the cruisers onboard, as well as the multinational service staff (with more than 60 nationalities represented).

On a theme cruise, expect live performances, dance parties, bar crawls and more.

Norwegian Pearl Bars and Lounges

This ship features a wide array of bars and lounges, ranging from mellow café-style venues for a beer or a cup of joe to a hopping nightclub open until the wee hours. Beverages aren’t cheap onboard, and even with the automatic gratuities and surcharges, Norwegian Pearl drink packages are often a good deal if you want to indulge in some cocktails, beer or wine. Beverage plans range from the Premium Plus Package, which includes everything (even Starbucks coffees), to the Pepsi-branded Soda Package.

Atrium Cafe & Bar (Deck 7): From pints and pina coladas to your morning latte, the cafe and bar in the atrium has you covered. Open 24/7, it's a popular place to spike a coffee, socialize or simply grab a drink on your way through. During our sailing, the atrium was a social hub, so stools at this spot were rarely empty.

Casino Bar (Deck 6): To get a drink mid-slot, head to the wraparound bar at the back of the Pearl Casino, with two small TVs and seating for about 10. Bar-top electronic gaming screens mean you're never far from a gamble.

Corona Cigar Bar (Deck 6): Corona is a small lounge, where smokers can light up their favorite cigar. Brown leather seating invites you to stay awhile.

Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar (Deck 6): Plush brown chairs, crushed velvet couches and framed whiskey bottles set the scene at this '20s-style retreat. Tucked among Art Deco murals of city-slick revelers, this bar encourages you to sit and converse over your favorite whiskey.

Shakers Martini & Cocktail Bar (Deck 6): Specializing in Bond's favorite poison, Shakers serves up martinis as well as other drinks. Plenty of flat-screen TVs (here and throughout Bar City), make it a prime place to watch sporting events. (NFL playoffs were in full swing during our January sailing, and cruisers seemed happy with the availability of the games.)

Magnum's Champagne & Wine Bar (Deck 6): Effervescent bottles along the bar's facade tell you Magnum's is the bar for bubbly. Directly facing the Bar City stage and across from Le Bistro, this is a classy place to grab a pre-dinner drink.

Bliss Ultra Lounge (Deck 7): Filled with beds and pillows, loungers and divans, silky fabrics and low lighting, Bliss gives new meaning to the word "nightclub." The dance club becomes an after-party hot spot (18 and over after 11 p.m.) later at night. (Oddly enough, bowling lanes occupy families here during the day.) A small stage allows for karaoke nights.

Sake Bar (Deck 7): In the same enclave that houses Lotus Garden and Sushi Bar, you'll find the Sake Bar. It's just that -- a place, with just a few chairs, to find a sampling of Japanese rice wine, served hot or cold.

O'Sheehan's (Deck 8): Although it's technically a bar, this area at the back of the restaurant is more of a place to have a drink order filled than a place to socialize. That being said, if an event is taking place on the stage in the atrium below, the area right in front of the bar has a great vantage point.

Spinnaker Lounge (Deck 13): Decor throughout Norwegian Pearl’s Spinnaker Lounge is bright, tropical and fun. Teal crushed velvet double-loungers are surrounded by white high-impact plastic bucket chairs ... with holes where one expects a seat. And guess what? They're comfortable. The lounge plays host to Norwegian's signature late-night event, the Norwegian Night Out, a club scene where everyone dresses in white and dances along with members of the Norwegian staff. There are some magnificent ice sculptures at this event, too. (The party is held twice with the earlier one being kid-friendly.)

Sugarcane Mojito Bar (Deck 13, inside Moderno): While we love this freestanding Miami/Cuban concept on some of Norwegian's newest ships, it's a bit of an afterthought on Pearl. It's literally just a counter (with Sugarcane etched in the glass behind it), confusingly located inside of Moderno's Churrascaria. Mojitos are a must, but the atmosphere is a bust. Caipirinhas (not mojitos) are the traditional Brazilian cocktail, so we're not sure what the thought process behind putting it in a Brazilian restaurant was.

Sky High Bar (Deck 13): While Sky High is a popular spot to watch the game -- with two flat-screen TVs and swivel high-top seats -- you can settle in and make it an early dinner spot, too. Burgers, hot dogs and fries are cooked to order and condiments and side items like potato salad and coleslaw are self-serve.

Norwegian Pearl restaurants offers a wide variety of cuisines, catering to virtually all tastes. There are plenty of free dining options, including two main dining rooms, a buffet with indoor and outdoor seating, an Asian venue, and multiple casual bars and grills. Specialty restaurants add even more choice, from French to Teppanyaki and Brazilian rodizio.

All in all, Norwegian Pearl food is tasty and varied, and many will find that you can easily skip the for-fee restaurants and still not feel bored of the choice (though you would be missing some excellent meals).

Norwegian Pearl Free Dining

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served via open seating at one of the two main dining rooms -- Indigo or Summer Palace -- but many passengers take advantage of the Garden Cafe and Great Outdoors Cafe when the weather is good. Pearl's two main dining rooms offer up the same menu but with different decor, so you feel like you are dining in two distinctly different venues. Dining times vary; a main dining venue might be closed for service due to the needs of the current voyage (on theme cruises, for instance, one restaurant might be used for autograph sessions on a certain day, while the other remains open for lunch).  

There's also a Continental breakfast occasionally served in Bar City (an area with multiple drinking establishments on Deck 6), with rolls, croissants, juice, coffee, tea, bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon. The bars aren't open at that hour, so it's a quiet, pleasant place to have a morning meal.

Complimentary late-night food options start around 10 p.m. and are available in four areas: Bar City (right outside of Le Bistro), Pearl Club Casino, Great Outdoors Cafe and O'Sheehan's. Both Bar City and the casino usually offer one main finger food (egg rolls, steak skewers) followed by assorted fruit, cookies and sandwiches. Great Outdoors takes it up a notch with hot entrees, soups, salads and bacon and eggs for partygoers until the wee hours. O'Sheehan's is open 24/7, offering pub food like chicken potpie or Buffalo wings to soak up the suds or satisfy that midnight munchie.

Summer Palace (Deck 6, aft): Summer Palace is only accessible by walking down a short staircase at the back of the ship to Deck 6. The restaurant features a stunning array of red and green upholstery, marble columns and large windows at the aft. Paintings that line the walls depict what seems like young royalty "summering" at a fancy estate. The menus in both main dining rooms are the same, and most selections change nightly. Categories include starters, featured dishes, a la carte, main courses and desserts. Choose from bouillabaisse soup, or shrimp mojito ceviche; then move on to flounder Milanese, sirloin strip steak or vegetarian lasagna. There are three a la carte options offered nightly consisting of premium dishes that incur an additional charge. Local flavors are worked into the menu with items like a Bahamian fish and crab cake on our sailing to Freeport.

Dishes marked with a check are healthy options, and vegetarian options are available, along with other dietary accommodations, arranged upon request. A sugar-free dessert is available at every meal.

Besides an array of ice cream, pies and the like, both dining rooms also offer specialty Lavazza Italian coffee, available at an additional charge.

A kids menu includes chicken fingers and grilled cheese.

The Main Dining Room breakfast menu offers up made-to-order hot and cold options like omelets, cereal, pastries, fresh fruit, French toast, bagels and lox and eggs Benedict.

This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Indigo (Deck 6, midship): Indigo, the smaller of the two main dining rooms, fittingly features a blue and purple color scheme with flashy, multicolored paintings of American landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Hollywood sign. Indigo is usually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but dinner is served a bit later here than in Summer Palace.

Garden Cafe (Deck 12): The Norwegian Pearl buffet is a large, casual venue off the main pool area. Rather than food trays, the Garden Cafe features rows of "action stations." Servers stand behind the counters, where small amounts of freshly made meals are put out one at one time and served. There are stations for salads, sandwiches, fresh pasta, carved meats, soups and vegetarian dishes, Asian and Indian food, hot dogs, hamburgers and attractive desserts displayed in glass cases. While there is tons of seating, stations do crowd frequently and you might have to walk back a bit before finding an open table for your party.

Hard ice cream with toppings is available much of the day, either in cones or in bowls.

Breakfast at Garden Cafe on Norwegian Pearl has everything you would expect from a buffet: sausages, bacon, eggs, cooked vegetables like mushrooms and onions, pancakes, fruit, small boxes of cereal, even Indian curries.

Great Outdoors Cafe (Deck 12, aft): This aft deck dining venue offers an alfresco version of the buffet with similar but more limited food options. The outdoor buffet is typically less crowded, so it's a nice alternative at peak dining times (when weather permits).

Topsiders Bar & Grill (Deck 12): A well-stocked pool grill, open for lunch only, serves roasted chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and dessert items buffet-style. It also serves limited breakfast (fruit, pastries) in the mornings. On some cruises, crew put together a cookout in front of the pool grill, with items like jerk chicken and corn on the cob.

Lotus Garden (Deck 7): This complimentary Asian venue offers dinner nightly and lunch on sea days. Choose from appetizers like pork pot stickers, spring rolls, a wakame seaweed salad with sesame dressing or egg drop soup. Main courses include Kung Pao chicken, orange peel beef, lemon pepper shrimp and fried rice various ways. A lobster Cantonese or ginger steamed Chilean sea bass are available for an additional charge at dinner. Dessert options include a five spice chocolate cake, coconut tapioca or crispy chestnut and red bean triangles, which reminded us a lot of baklava (and came with green tea ice cream). The meal was well prepared – and it didn't hurt that it didn't cost us anything extra; had we been on a longer sailing, we'd likely have gone back again.

O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill (Deck 8): 

O'Sheehan's

is Norwegian's fleetwide pub; it's located one deck above the atrium on Pearl, encircling the space so there's a view below from nearly anywhere. The area never closes, and has everything from table service with a rotating menu (breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night) and a small buffet to a bar in the back, overlooking the atrium. (While O'Sheehan's has more of a pub vibe on Norwegian's newer ships, its retrofit on Pearl put the bar area out of the way and, subsequently, it's not very popular.) O'Sheehan's was our secret weapon for breakfast -- never crowded and providing made-to-order omelets, French toast, baskets of pastries and, most importantly, lots of coffee. Whether you want a slice of chocolate cake or a plate of fries, this is the spot to indulge your caloric whim.

Norwegian Pearl Specialty Dining and Other For-Fee Options

Have a night out at one of Norwegian Pearl's specialty restaurants, which span French, Italian, Brazilian, Chinese, Japanese and American cuisines. While most menus charge per item (like land-based restaurants), two venues -- Teppanyaki and Moderno -- carry flat cover charges. If you plan on making it a "night out" every night, specialty dining packages bundle the cost of multiple meals at specialty restaurants into one flat fee, reducing the overall cost. Specialty restaurants on Norwegian Pearl are typically open for dinner only.

Le Bistro (Deck 6); a la carte pricing: French restaurant 

Le Bistro

 has an upscale Art Nouveau setting, and serves dishes like escargot as an appetizer and duck confit and grilled swordfish as mains. The chocolate Napoleon is the dessert highlight here.

Sushi Bar (Deck 7); a la carte pricing: Adjacent to Lotus Garden is a sushi bar, open for lunch on sea days and nightly for dinner. While sushi rolls and sashimi are also available to order on the Lotus Garden menu, the bar allows for a more authentic feel, as you watch the sushi chefs create your order. Rolls, nigiri and sashimi are all available.

Teppanyaki (Deck 7); Prix fixe**:** 

Teppanyaki

 is Norwegian's popular Japanese Hibachi restaurant where the preparation of your food is a show. Skillful and playful chefs balance eggs on the back of spatulas and flip and catch shrimp, all while serving you a three-course meal. Highlights include the hibachi chicken with udon noodles and an exotic green tea cake for dessert. Fair warning though: There are only four tables (with about eight to 10 seats at each) in this small restaurant, so you need a reservation.

Moderno Churrascaria (Deck 13); Prix fixe**:** 

Moderno Churrascaria

, a Brazilian-style steakhouse, offers an expansive lineup of skewered meat, including lamb chops, filet mignon and Portuguese sausage. A mural of people dancing and dining lines the walls and the dim lighting creates an elegant feel. The meal begins with a quality salad bar that features international cheeses, dried meats, olives and marinated veggies like grilled bell peppers alongside the traditional salad ingredients. The pre-made salad options -- like the yellow beet with chicken and mango; or the shrimp, scallop and red snapper ceviche -- are also exquisite. For your main course, there's no need to choose just one; waiters come around with meat on skewers, and you can try small portions of everything. Sides, including mashed potatoes, fried sweet bananas, and rice and beans, are served with the meat. Beware: It's very easy to fill up on starters before the meat is brought around. Pace yourself.

La Cucina (Deck 12); a la carte pricing: Large, family-style wooden tables hug one side of this trattoria, while traditional tables for two to four people line the other. We could have dined solely on the antipasto plate offered here, with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, a couple of thin slices of Parmesan Reggiano, marinated mushrooms and artichoke hearts, thin slices of Parma ham and carpaccio, and rolls and breadsticks with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. The meat dish (veal) was impressive, too, but even better was the perfectly al dente side of linguini carbonara that we chose. The restaurant bakes its own pies in a large pizza oven, but you won't find American standards like pepperoni. Choose from pizza selections such as pepperoncino, with mozzarella, beef strips and garlic; and Bolognese, with mozzarella, roma tomatoes and Bolognese sauce. If you have room, finish it off with the rhubarb panna cotta, which features peach and grape chutney in a vanilla reduction.

**Cagney's Steakhouse (Deck 13); a la carte pricing: **

Cagney's

, Norwegian's signature steak and chophouse, features an open kitchen, horse paintings and red rose lights that give off a romantic feel as you dine on some heavy-duty steak. Start with the lump crab salad or the split pea soup before making your way to cuts of meat that range from an 18 oz. bone-in ribeye to an 8 oz. gorgonzola-crusted filet mignon. Make your side dish the truffle fries, and if you still have room, try the raspberry creme brulee for dessert. The menu includes appetizers, soups and salads, entrees such as double-cut pork chop and surf and turf, and sides like sauteed broccoli, truffle mashed potatoes, and onion rings. Seafood includes a tuna steak and whole cold-water Maine lobster.

Room Service; flat service fee**, except Continental breakfast:** Room service on Norwegian has a flat service charge per order (so make sure everyone in your party orders at the same time). Exceptions to the fee are for suite passengers or those ordering a Continental breakfast -- consisting of fruit, yogurt and cereal. (Indicate if you are interested in such a breakfast by hanging a card with your order on your cabin door the night before.) Available menu items for a fee include omelets and French toast for breakfast; chicken noodle soup, Cobb salad, cheese plate, 11-inch pizzas, BLT or cheeseburger for lunch. For dinner, try grilled salmon, spaghetti Bolognese or Argentine skirt steak. Desserts include New York cheesecake, strawberry pound cake and chocolate cake.

Starbucks; a la carte pricing (Deck 7): If you crave something fancier than the cofree coffee served in the main dining room, you can get Starbucks coffee and sweets in this small café, located right in the heart of the atrium. The experience is comparable to that on land.